Brad Aronson’s life changed in an instant when his wife, Mia, was diagnosed with leukemia. Following her diagnosis, Brad spent most of the next two-and-a-half years either by Mia’s side as she received treatment or trying to shield their five-year-old son, Jack, from the worst of Mia’s illness. Amid the stress and despair of waiting for the treatment to ultimately work, Brad and Mia were met by an outpouring of kindness from friends, family and even complete strangers.

Inspired by the many demonstrations of “humankindness” that supported their family through Mia’s treatment and recovery, Brad began writing about the people who rescued his family from that dark time, often with the smallest gestures. But he didn’t stop there. Knowing that the world is full of moments when a simple act of kindness transforms a life, he sought out these stories and shares some of the best ones here.

In HumanKind, you’ll meet the mentor who changed a child’s life with a single lesson in shoe-tying, the six-year-old who launched a global kindness movement, the band of seamstress grandmothers who mend clothes for homeless people, and many other heroes.

Brad also provides dozens of ways you can make a difference through the simplest words and deeds. You’ll discover how sharing a meal or offering a little encouragement at the right time can change someone’s world.

HumanKind will leave you grateful for what you have and provide a refuge from the negativity that surrounds us. This book is an uplifting reminder of what really matters and of how easily you can change a life—including your own. 

All author royalties go to mentoring nonprofit Big Brothers Big Sisters.